diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index c09290b..d40192b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   test:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    name: Test (${{ matrix.os }})
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
@@ -30,6 +35,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Install CodeCarbon
+        run: python -m pip install --upgrade pip codecarbon
+
+      - name: Integration smoke checks
+        run: npm run test:smoke
+
       - name: Run Python tests
         run: npm run test:python
 
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bcb7a13..a89fe45 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ bundled/libs/
 **/.pytest_cache
 **/.vs
 
-out-tests
\ No newline at end of file
+out-tests
+# Codecarbon emissions data
+emissions.csv
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1f2b247..579ac21 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,10 +55,16 @@ If you want keyboard shortcuts, add these to your `keybindings.json`:
 
 ## Requirements
 
-The extension uses `codecarbon` to measure the carbon emissions. This package connects to your hardware via specific APIs to get to know the power usage of your CPU/GPU/RAM. These APIs depend on the brand and OS. See https://mlco2.github.io/codecarbon/methodology.html#power-usage for the needed tools for your specific setup.
+The extension uses `codecarbon` to measure the carbon emissions. This package connects to your hardware via specific APIs to get to know the power usage of your CPU/GPU/RAM. These APIs depend on the brand and OS. See https://docs.codecarbon.io/latest/introduction/methodology/#power-usage for the needed tools for your specific setup.
 
 > Note: if you do not install the requirements, codecarbon will track in fallback mode.
 
+## Cross-platform caveats
+
+-   The extension behavior is designed to be consistent on Linux, macOS, and Windows (same start/stop commands, status bar state model, and logs).
+-   Hardware-level power collection accuracy depends on OS-specific CodeCarbon dependencies and vendor tooling. Review the official CodeCarbon power usage requirements in the link above.
+-   When those dependencies are unavailable, CodeCarbon may use fallback estimation mode; the extension still runs, but metrics fidelity can differ by platform.
+
 ## Extension Settings
 
 This extension contributes the following settings:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e6a6f75..caf87dd 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@
     "package": "vsce package",
     "test:python": "python3 -m unittest discover -s tests/python -p \"test_*.py\"",
     "test:ts": "tsc -p tsconfig.tests.json && node --test out-tests/tests/ts/*.test.js",
-    "test": "npm run test:python && npm run test:ts"
+    "test:smoke": "node --test tests/integration/*.test.mjs",
+    "test": "npm run test:smoke && npm run test:python && npm run test:ts"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/node": "^25.5.0",
diff --git a/tests/integration/smoke.test.mjs b/tests/integration/smoke.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b944c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/smoke.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+import { execFile, spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import process from 'node:process';
+import test from 'node:test';
+
+const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
+const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename);
+const workspaceRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, '../..');
+const trackerScript = path.resolve(workspaceRoot, 'src/scripts/tracker.py');
+const pythonCmd = process.env.PYTHON_CMD || 'python';
+
+function execPython(args) {
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+        execFile(pythonCmd, args, (error, stdout, stderr) => {
+            resolve({
+                ok: !error,
+                stdout: stdout?.toString() ?? '',
+                stderr: stderr?.toString() ?? '',
+                code: error?.code ?? 0,
+            });
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+async function checkInterpreterDiscovery() {
+    const version = await execPython(['--version']);
+    assert.equal(
+        version.ok,
+        true,
+        `Interpreter discovery failed for "${pythonCmd}"\n${version.stdout}\n${version.stderr}`,
+    );
+    console.log(`Interpreter discovery OK: ${(version.stdout || version.stderr).trim()}`);
+
+    const pip = await execPython(['-m', 'pip', '--version']);
+    assert.equal(pip.ok, true, `pip is unavailable for selected interpreter\n${pip.stdout}\n${pip.stderr}`);
+    console.log(`pip check OK: ${pip.stdout.trim()}`);
+}
+
+async function checkPackagePresenceProbe() {
+    const show = await execPython(['-m', 'pip', 'show', 'codecarbon']);
+    if (show.ok) {
+        console.log('Package presence check OK: codecarbon is installed.');
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (show.code === 1) {
+        console.log('Package presence check OK: codecarbon not installed (probe behavior validated).');
+        return;
+    }
+
+    assert.fail(`Package presence probe failed unexpectedly\n${show.stdout}\n${show.stderr}`);
+}
+
+async function checkTrackerLifecycle() {
+    await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        const child = spawn(pythonCmd, ['-u', trackerScript, 'start'], {
+            cwd: workspaceRoot,
+            stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
+        });
+        const timeoutMs = 20000;
+        const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+            child.kill();
+            reject(new Error(`Tracker did not start within ${timeoutMs}ms.`));
+        }, timeoutMs);
+
+        let started = false;
+        let output = '';
+
+        const onData = (chunk) => {
+            const text = chunk.toString();
+            output += text;
+            if (!started && (text.includes('Starting the tracker...') || text.includes('Tracker started.'))) {
+                started = true;
+                setTimeout(() => child.kill(), 1500);
+            }
+        };
+
+        child.stdout?.on('data', onData);
+        child.stderr?.on('data', onData);
+
+        child.on('close', (code) => {
+            clearTimeout(timeout);
+            if (!started) {
+                reject(new Error(`Tracker lifecycle failed before start (exit code: ${code}).\n${output}`));
+                return;
+            }
+            console.log(`Tracker lifecycle OK (exit code: ${code ?? 'unknown'}).`);
+            resolve();
+        });
+
+        child.on('error', (error) => {
+            clearTimeout(timeout);
+            reject(error);
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+test('integration smoke: interpreter discovery', async () => {
+    console.log(`Running integration smoke test with interpreter: ${pythonCmd}`);
+    await checkInterpreterDiscovery();
+});
+
+test('integration smoke: package presence probe', async () => {
+    await checkPackagePresenceProbe();
+});
+
+test('integration smoke: tracker lifecycle spawn/stop', async () => {
+    await checkTrackerLifecycle();
+    console.log('All integration smoke checks passed.');
+});